rogers and p



R. H. ROGERS AND P. 0. DORER.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR USE ON MOTOR CARS AND ELSEWHERE.

APPLICATlON FILED APR.23. 1918.

1,3 17, 178. Patented Sept. 30,1919.

R. H. ROGERS AND P10. DORER. CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR use 0N MOTOR CARS AND ELSEWHERE.

APPLICATldN FILED APR.23. 1918. 1,317,178.

' Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

III/A 2 SHEETSSH.EET 2.

i fit STATES PATENT OFFICE.

,RICHARD HAWKE ROGERS AND PRIMUS OTTO DORER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIG-NORS TO S. SMITH & SONS (MOTOR ACCESSORIES) LIMITED, OF LONDON,

ENGLAND.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR USE ON MOTOR-CARS AND ELSEWHERE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 30, 1919.

Application filed April 23, 1918. Serial No. 230,302.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RICHARD HAWKE Rooms and PRIMUs OTTO Donna, subjects of the King of England, and residents of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Devices for Use on Motor-Cars and Elsewhere, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to controlling devices an more particularly to electrical switches, such as are intended for use on motor-cars, although it is not confined to such switches.

It is an object of the present invention to combine a controlling device or an electrical switch with a piece of apparatus ordinarily provided with a bezel, in such a manner that the said bezel may constitute the handle of the switch, that is to say the part by manual operation of which the switchposition is changed. Electrical measuringinstruments and clocks are frequently tobe found in motor-cars, commonly on the dashboard, and clocks are already wellknown in which the bezel is used for winding the clock. In juxtaposition with the measuring-instrument or with the clock, switches are frequently arranged, and one of the advantages arising out of the present invention is that such switch or switches can be provided with a bezel as handle, which bezel is identical in size and appearance with that of the clock-winder or of the measuring-instrument,

The present invention, therefore, combines with a controlling device or an instrument or indicator that is provided with a rotatable bezel, an electrical switch so connected with the said bezel that the latter constitutes the handle for the switch. The said indicator may conveniently be a positionindicator for the switch and have its indications efl'ected by the rotation of the bezel.

This invention further provides that the said instrument may comprise circuits or be combined with external circuits togther with means whereby the connections of the said circuits are modified by the switch.

A further construct-ion provided by this invention is one wherein the said instrument or indicator comprises a body behind its face, which latter extends as a radial flange from the front of the body, together with an inclosing shell within which, and to which, the said body is secured, and which further constitutes a support and inclosure for the switch-parts. Conveniently portions of the switch and terminals therefor are directly mounted upon the said shell and portions cooperating therewith are mounted upon the body of the instrument or indicator in such manner that the latter, together with the parts upon it, can be removed bodily from within the shell and replaced therein without dismantling or deranging any of the switch-parts or wires connected thereto mounted upon the said shell.

This invention is further to be ascertained I and understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of electrical switch with my improvement attached;

Fig. 2 a section On the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing one construction of device according to this invention;

Fig. 3is a perspective view of a modified construction but with the outer shell removed, and

Fig. i is an elevation, and Fig. 5 a section, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, of another modification.

The device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a combined volt-meter and ammeter having a cylindrical body A housed within a shell or casing C of cylindrical form with an open front wherein is accommodated the bezel B of the instrument. The body of the instrument is firmly secured by a central screw G to a base-block G fixed in the shell C and the bezel B is received against a shoulder C in the wall of the shell 0.

The dial of the instrument is seen at I) and is secured firmly to the body. It is engaged between a metal slip-ring E, such as is usually employed behind the-glass of an instrument, and a locking-ring F, which is screwed into the bezel-ring B, which latter is internally screw-threaded to receive the locking-ring. The glass is indicated at E It will be seen that the instrument, with stituting the flange. The bezel is thus rotatably supported by the shoulder C of the shell and prevented from displacement axially away from the base by engagement of the ring F with the back of the dial D.

J The body of the instrument is conveniently slotted to engage with a key-plece (l secured in the base-block G, so as to prevent rotation of the body A relatively to the base-block.

In various positions in the base-block are mounted several pairs of contact-studs H, one such pair only being shown in the drawing. Upon the inner face of the lockingring are mounted one or more switch-arms J provided with brushes J insulated from the arms, and constructed to register with and bridge such a pair of contacts as that shown at H. Only one arm and brush J J are shown in the drawing.

The cylindrical wall of the shell C is pierced with locking-holes C and a snaplock is provided in the form of a button K mounted on a spring K secured to the inner face of the ring F.

The dial of the instrument is pierced with two apertures D diametrically opposite one another, and indications are inscribed upon the ring F in appropriate positions so as to be exposed at one or other of the said apertures D when a switch-brush bridges a pair of contacts, such as H, in correspondence with the said indication. In order to insure correct register of the various parts, a grub-screw B or other keying device, is arranged to lock the ring F relatively to the bezel B and prevent its displacement when it has been screwed therein to a correctly-adjusted position. Care is also exercised in positioning-the holes C and the button K with regard to the positions of the brushes J and pairs of contacts 'H.

In use, the shell C may be mounted direct in the dashboard of the vehicle, or, if preferred, in an outer, and weatherproof, case which, in turn, is secured to the dashboard. Connecting-wires are then suitably secured to the outer ends of the studs H, and if an outer weatherproof case is employed, the wires are bunched and brought through a suitably-protected opening in the case. Rotation of the bezel B will now provide switching connection by means of the brushes J to give various modifications of the circuit connections, and simultaneously therewith indications will appear at the a ertures D to indicate the modifications e ected. Some of these modifications may include the circuit or circuits of the electrical measuring-instrument shown.

It will be observed that by release of the screw G alone, and by taking hold of the bezel B, the instrument, together with the switch-arms and brushes, may be withdrawn bodily from the shell 0 without in any way distrubing the connections to the pairs of contacts H.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the

base-block G is provided with an outer portion G which affords a flange for the shell C, but whose function is mainly to provide means for arranging and housing connections between switch-parts within the shell mounted upon the block G and terminals to be arranged on the outer face of the piece G For this latter purpose, two bars of insulating material G may conveniently be provided, as shown, and terminals fitted upon these, one such terminal being indicated at L. e The switch-parts carried upon the block G comprise contact-fingers M arranged in pairs, carried each on a pillar pr0 j ecting from the block G and extending circumferentially around the body of the instrument.

The body of the instrument is surrounded by a sleeve 0 of insulating material secured to the ring F, in which are embedded contact-blocks 0 so that these are completely insulated except as to their outer faces which are presented to the fingers M. The blocks and fingers M thus cooperate after the well-known manner of parts of a tramway-controller. Two screws T pass through the base-block G and engage with the body of the instrument to hold it against rotation and secure it, and the bezel, within the shell C.

In order to secure definiteness of position of the parts, a snap-lock is provided by a spring-pressed ball P housed in a pillar P projecting from the block G, recesses F being formed in suitable positions in the locking-ring F to cooperate with the ball P. One or more limiting-stops F are mounted on the ring F to cooperate with steel pins P projecting from the block G. With this construction the bezel is rotated, as is the bezel in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the switch-positions are indicated at the openings D the circuits being determined by the position and axial length of the contact-bars O Itwill readily appear to a person acquainted with the art of electrical switching, that any desired arrangement of circuits may readily be obtained by this means. In the construction illustrated, eight fingers M are provided, four only being visible in Fig. 3, the other four being similar and similarly arranged but with their tips diametrically opposite the four that are visible. In cooperation with these are nine contact-pieces O, of which three only are clearly to be seen in the drawing. The fingers M are connected to fifteen terminals L, eight upon one and seven upon the other of the bars G* by which various modifications can be effected in the connections between a dynamo, a battery, and the head-lights, sidelights and tail-light of the vehicle.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5,

, the central instrument of the device is merely a position-indicator for the switch. The dial carries suitable indications, not marked on a segmental rack S, as indicated in Fig. 5,

may be mounted on the ring F and arranged to gear with a wheel or pinion S upon the spindle of the indicator through an intermediate wheel S pivotally supported fromthe base G of the device.

Alternatively a mark, such as B, may be applied to the glass of the bezel or a pointer such as is indicated at R secured to the outside of the bezel to cooperate with marks upon a flange C upon the shell.

Indicating-marks, such as R or R may be employed with either of the constructions shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 3.

The shell is screw-threaded,.as indicated at C in Fig. 3, to receive. a screw-threaded ring so that the shell can be held between a flange, such' as C and the said ring in a supporting panel, such for example as the dashboard of the vehicle.

It will beobserved that with the construction shown in Fig. 3, as well as with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the body of the instrument may be removed with the bezel without in any way disturbing the fingers M or their terminals L, or the wires connected thereto.

It is not essential that the instrument whose dial is at D should be an instrument having any direct relation to the switch or electrical circuits connected thereto. It is not essential that it should be an electrical instrument at all.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination of, a controlling de-" vice, a housing, a dial supported in the housing and covered by a bezel rotatably mounted in thehousing, a position-indicator for the controlling device, means operatively connecting the controlling device with the said bezel, and means operatively connect-- ing the said indicator with the controlling device, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of, a multiple-way electric switch, a housing, a dial supported in the housing and covered by a bezel rotatably mounted in the housing, a positionindicator for the switch, meansoperatively connecting the switch with the said bezel, and means operatively connecting the said indicator with the switch, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of, a multiple-way electric switch, a multiple-function measuring instrument having a dial covered by a bezel rotatably mounted in relation thereto and having a. plurality of electric circuits connected to the said switch, means to indicate the position of the switch upon the said dial, means operatively connecting the switch with the said bezel, and means operatively connecting the said indicator with the switch, substantially as set forth.

4. A switching device, comprising a casing, a dial mounted therein, a plurality of contact members mounted in the casing, a bezel rotatably mounted in the casing, a plurality of switch contacts connected to the bezel and arranged to be moved therewith into and out of contact relation with the contacts in the casing, and means on the dial and bezel for indicating the relative positions of the contact members and switch members, substantially as described.

5. A switching device, comprising a casing, a dial mounted therein, a plurality of contact members mounted in the casing, a bezel rotatably mounted in the casing, a plurality of switch contacts connected to the bezel and arranged to be moved therewith into and out of contact relation with the contacts in the casing, means on the dial and bezel for indicating the relative movement of the contact members, and spring locking devices between the bezel and casing for locking the bezel in its different positions, substantially as described.

6. A switching device, comprising a casing, a plurality of fixed contacts within the casing, a bezel rotatably mounted in the casing, a plurality of movable contacts connected thereto and arranged to be moved into contact relation with the various contacts connected to the casing, a dial fixedly supported in the casing having a plurality of openings therethrough, and indicating devices connected to the bezel adapted to be disclosed through said openings to designate the positons of the contact members, substantially as described.

7. The combination of, an instrument having a body, a shell inclosing the body and having a bezel rotatably mounted upon it, an electric switch whose terminals and portions electrically connected thereto are directly mounted upon the said shell and having other portions cooperating with the aforesaid portions but mounted upon the instrument body, the parts being so dimensioned and constructed that the said body with the switch-parts thereon can be removed bodily from within the shell and replaced therein without dismantlin the switch-parts upon the shell, a position-1ndicator for the switch, means operatively connecting the switch with the said bezel, and means. operatively connecting the said indicator with the switch, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of an indicating device having a body, a casing surrounding said body, a bezel rotatably mounted in the casing, and surrounding the instrument, a

dial connected to the body of the instrument, a plurality of electric contacts supported on the casing, a plurality of contacts supported on the bezel and arranged to'be moved there with to close the different circuits through the contacts connected to the casing, and indicating devices on the dial and the bezel for indicating the positions of the sets of contacts With relation to each other, substantially as described.

9. The combination of an indicating instrument having a body, a base to which said instrument is connected, a casing connected to said base and surrounding the instrument, a bezel rotatably mounted in the front of the casing, a glass secured to said bezel in front of the instrument, a dial connected to the front of the instrument in back of the glass, a ring member connected to the bezel in back of the dial, there being a plurality of openings through the dial, indicating devices on the rin for indicating the position of the bezel with relation to the dial, fixed electrical contacts fixedly mounted within the casring, and movable contacts connected to the ring and arranged to contact With the fixed contacts, substantially as described.

10. The combination of an indicating instrument having a body, a base to which said instrument is connected, a casing connected to said base and surrounding the instrument, a bezel rotatably mounted in the front of the casing, a glass secured to said bezel in front of the instrument, a dial connected to the front of the instrument in back of the glass, a ring member connected to the bezel in back of the dial, there being a plurality of openings through the dial, indicating devices on the ring for indicating the position of the bezel with relation to the dial, fixed electrical contacts fixedly mounted Within the casing, movable contacts connected to the ring and arranged to contact with the fixed contacts, and spring locking means for locking the bezel at predetermined positions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD HAWKE ROGERS.

PRIMUS OTTO DORER. Witnesses:

Crms. J. SAMPSON,

ARTHUR CHAMPION. 

